Paul takes a look at Madhouse's avant-garde movie about the underworld with a dub produced by Youtubers, plus a brand-new Shelf Obsessed submission and all this week's new anime releases!― By the time you read this, I'll probably be digging out from a foot or more of snow. I was totally planning on going outside and being productive over the weekend and definitely wasn't looking for an excuse to st...

The infamous Slayer's story extends beyond the anime in these two action-packed volumes. How will these new challenges affect these unconventional adventurers?― While the story arcs covered by the 2018 anime adaptation begin the work of showing how Goblin Slayer's new party helps him recover some of his lost humanity, the events of volumes five and six really kick that job into high gear. What's als...

As it turns out, "you've been transported to another world!" has been a storytelling device since the dawn of time. Mike takes a fascinating trip through the history of the genre.― Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a remarkable animated film about the chronicles of a troubled man with a life full of problems, who's whisked away from the world he knows to a new and different parallel universe—one whe...

This fantasy adventure indulges some familiar tropes but strays just far enough from the beaten path to keep things interesting. Rebecca Silverman dives in.― Cross Infinite World tends to focus more on light novel translations, but the few manga titles they've also licensed are interesting. Tia la Cherla is a straight fantasy (as opposed to the historical fantasy, isekai, and urban fantasy of their ...

A young woman gets spirited away to a world of ayakashi and discovers new passions in this charming romance manga. Rebecca Silverman has the details.― Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits' first volume and its 2018 anime are both adaptations of author Midori Yuma's original light novel, and as such, this book brings something a little different to the table than the anime. That said, even if you ne...

Lauren Orsini takes an in-depth look at this Perfect Grade model kit to determine if this beloved release is a good choice for newcoming or veteran Gundam builders.― Gundam Astray Red Frame has its origins in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray. Published by Tokyopop, this manga has been out of print in the US since 2004. Nevertheless, its lead mobile suit's samurai-inspired design has captiva...

Film opens in Japan on January 25― The official website for the live-action film of Norimitsu Kaihō and Sadoru Chiba's School-Live! (Gakkō Gurashi!) manga began streaming a project promotional video on Monday. The video includes behind-the-scenes footage, staff interviews, and the film's previously revealed second trailer. Issey Shibata (Real Onigokko) is directing and penning the script for the fil...

Change comes in preparation for 2020 Olympics― 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores in Japan will no longer sell adult magazines come this summer. The move was announced on Monday in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in hopes of making the stores more welcoming to women and children and maintain a positive image of the country among visiting foreigners. Women make up approximately 50% o...

Teaser image shows Goku, Gohan― The official Twitter account for Dragon Ball games posted a teaser for the upcoming Dragon Ball "Project Z" action role-playing game on Monday. The tweet says that the "next Dragon Ball game" is set in the "world of 'Z'" and says the game will portray a "nostalgic and all-new Dragon Ball world." The teaser image shows Goku and Gohan. The staff teased that it will reve...

Paul takes a look at Madhouse's avant-garde movie about the underworld with a dub produced by Youtubers, plus a brand-new Shelf Obsessed submission and all this week's new anime releases!― By the time you read this, I'll probably be digging out from a foot or more of snow. I was totally planning on going outside and being productive over the weekend and definitely wasn't looking for an excuse to st...

The infamous Slayer's story extends beyond the anime in these two action-packed volumes. How will these new challenges affect these unconventional adventurers?― While the story arcs covered by the 2018 anime adaptation begin the work of showing how Goblin Slayer's new party helps him recover some of his lost humanity, the events of volumes five and six really kick that job into high gear. What's als...

Hanamizawa also teases planned new series― This year's February issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday GX magazine announced on Saturday that Q-taro Hanamizawa's Love App manga will return this spring as an online manga. Hanamizawa also announced that they have various other projects in the works, including a planned new series. Love App ended in the same issue of the magazine. Hanamizawa launched the...

Kawahara remarks that his outlook changed after receiving feedback at overseas events.― In an interview posted on Dengeki Online on Friday, Sword Art Online author Reki Kawahara sat down with Bloom Into You manga artist Nio Nakatani and voice actor Ai Kayano (who voices Alice in Sword Art Online and Sayaka in Bloom Into You) to discuss their thoughts on each other's work. Kawahara and Nakatani profe...

As it turns out, "you've been transported to another world!" has been a storytelling device since the dawn of time. Mike takes a fascinating trip through the history of the genre.― Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a remarkable animated film about the chronicles of a troubled man with a life full of problems, who's whisked away from the world he knows to a new and different parallel universe—one whe...

Guests include U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Donkey Kong 64 voice actor, composer Grant Kirkhope.― Video games YouTuber Hbomberguy (Harry Brewis) started a marathon charity stream of Donkey Kong 64 on Friday 8:30pm GMT in order to raise funds for Mermaids UK, a support network for transgender and non-binary children in the United Kingdom. The stream has since exceeded its initial goal...

Game launches for PS4, Switch in Japan on January 31― 5pb. began streaming a promotional video on Monday for Robotics;Notes DaSH, the sequel game to MAGES.' Robotics;Notes visual novel. The video features Zwei's opening theme song "Avant Story." The sequel story will center around the former members of the Robot Club after they have graduated from high school. Steins;Gate character Itaru "Daru" Ishi...

Game also launches for Switch in Japan on January 31― Marvelous announced on Monday that Altera Larva (Attila Larva) will join Marvelous and Type-Moon's Fate/Extella Link game as a DLC playable character on January 31. The company also began streaming an introduction video for the character. XSEED Games, a subsidiary of Marvelous, will release the game in the West for PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4...

Suteki na Kareshi, Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō, Kenkō de Bunkateki na Saitei Gendo no Seikatsu also win― The judging committee of the 64th Shogakukan Manga Awards announced this year's winners on Monday. Each winning title will be honored with a bronze statuette and a prize of 1 million yen (about US$9,000). Best Children's Manga 12-Sai. (Age 12) Nao Maita Serialized in Ciao (Shogakukan) The sto...

― The official Twitter account for the Sadako character from the Ring horror franchise launched a website at the "sadako-movie.jp" URL on Friday. Kadokawa also began streaming a teaser video featuring the phrase "it will surely come." The Twitter account teases that "something" will happen at 4:44 a.m. and 4:44 p.m. JST each day on the website. So far, the website normally has an image of what looks...

Manga launched in 2014, Seven Seas publishes English version― The March issue of Akita Shoten's Champion RED magazine published the last chapter of the "first part" of Leiji Matsumoto and Kōichi Shimahoshi's Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage (Captain Harlock ~Jigen Kōkai~) manga on Saturday. The issue did not reveal if the manga will have a "second part," but Shimahoshi noted that he would "do his...

― This year's third issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Original magazine revealed on Saturday that manga creator Junji Ito will pen a one-shot manga titled "Wasuregatami" (Memento) in the magazine's next issue on February 5. The magazine describes the manga as a "married couple horror story." Ito's Uzumaki and Tomie manga have inspired live-action adaptations, and his GYO manga inspired an OVA. Viz Med...

Game launches in U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand on February 12― NIS America began streaming a clip on Sunday for its The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince (Usotsuki Hime to Mōmoku Ōji) game for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The clip shows the Princess transforming into the Wolf to protect the Prince, and then transforming back into the Princess to lead the way. NISA will release the game...

― The previously reported countdown website for the Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Gaiden) smartphone role-playing game ended on Monday at 5:00 p.m. JST (3:00 a.m. EST), and became a website to commemorate the appearance of Homura Akemi in the game. An event featuring Homura launched in the game on Monday. 【イベント】1月21日17:00より、イベント『始まりと永遠と ~...

KENN, Shouta Aoi perform "SuperHighSchool" song for March 14 PS Vita game― The official Twitter account for Spike Chunsoft's Kenka Banchō Otome 2nd Rumble!!, the PlayStation Vita game sequel to the Kenka Banchō Otome PS Vita game, began streaming a video for the game on Monday. The video reveals and previews the game's theme song "SuperHighSchool" by KENN and Shouta Aoi as their respective character...

― Compile Heart opened a teaser website for a new project at the "www.compileheart.com/moe-chro/h/" URL on Monday. The site contains a switchable image, the number "3," and a picture of Otton, the mascot character of Compile Heart's Moero Chronicle (Genkai Tokki: Moero Chronicle) game. Compile Heart released Moero Chronicle in Japan for the PlayStation Vita in May 2014. Sony Computer Entertainment p...

Date A Live Ren Dystopia game slated for summer― Compile Heart opened a website on Monday for its new game based on Koushi Tachibana's Date A Live light novel series, revealing the title as Date A Live Ren Dystopia. The game is slated for a summer release for the PlayStation 4 in Japan. sweet ARMS will perform the theme song "Kangen Yūwaku Receptor" for the game. The game's story begins on a normal ...

Special adapts Boogiepop at Dawn novel; VS Imaginator, Boogiepop Overdrive stories also being adapted― The official website for the television anime of author Kouhei Kadono and illustrator Kouji Ogata's Boogiepop and Others (Boogiepop wa Warawanai) light novel series revealed on Monday that the anime will adapt the Boogiepop at Dawn novel (the sixth novel in the series) in the anime's 10th to 13th e...

― Bandai Namco Entertainment briefly posted then removed a video on YouTube on Monday that revealed a SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays game. The video featured English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean subtitles, but did not reveal a platform for the game. The video featured the text, "After Genesis, 4 worlds will cross," and advertised the game as the latest in the "G Generation" games. The video fea...

― Japanese cinema chain Aeon Cinema is listing the Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! Kurenai Densetsu (KONOSUBA - God's blessing on this wonderful world! Crimson Legend) anime film with a July 12 opening date. The film was previously only announced with a 2019 opening date. Takaomi Kanasaki is returning from the previous two anime seasons to direct the film at J.C. Staff (Studio DEEN animated th...

Golden Gold, Nagi no Oitoma, Delicious in Dungeon nominated again― The executive committee for the 12th Manga Taisho awards listed this year's 13 nominated works on Monday. (The official English name of the awards is the "Cartoon Grand Prize.") Manga Taisho 2019 Nominees 1122Peko Watanabe Ikoku Nikki (Foreign Country Diary)Tomoko Yamashita Astra Lost in Space (Kanata no Astra)Kenta Shinohara Kengōji...

Sunday, January 20

Medical suspense manga about genius doctor launched regular serialization last October― Kodansha announced on Monday that Ao Akato's In Hand manga will receive a live-action television adaptation starring Tomohisa Yamashita (seen below) as protagonist Dr. Himokura. Shunichi Hirano is one of the directors for the series, and Yasuhiro Yoshida is one of the scriptwriters. The series will premiere on TB...

Live-action series also has film slated for May― The official website for the live-action adaptations of Homura Kawamoto and Tōru Naomura's Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler manga revealed a new visual and the premiere date for the show's second season on Monday. The series will premiere on MBS on March 31 at 12:50 a.m. (effectively April 1), and will also premiere on TBS on April 2 at 1:28 a.m. (effec...

When you really think about it, Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel is a perfect match for Pizza Hut. The purple logo of the former contrasts with the red logo of the latter. They are so different, and yet so very close. Just like Sakura and Shirou. Because they are a match made in heaven, the film and the pizza chain are starting up a collaboration campaign from January 21 to 28. If you order somethin...

Voice actor Yuuki Kaji shared his thoughts on Kaori Tsurutani's Metamorphose no Engawa manga, which topped the list of manga for female readers in the 2019 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook. Kaji had previously performed the voice-over narration for a promotional video about the manga. The story of Metamorphose no Engawa is about a 75-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl w...

― The official website for the Fate/Grand Order stage plays revealed a second main visual on January 11 for the ongoing Fate/Grand Order The Stage -Dai Nana Tokuiten Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia- (Order VII: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts: Babylonia) stage play. The play stars Shōichirō Oomi and Mioka Sakamoto (double-cast) as protagonist Ritsuka Fujimaru. The play ran ...

This fantasy adventure indulges some familiar tropes but strays just far enough from the beaten path to keep things interesting. Rebecca Silverman dives in.― Cross Infinite World tends to focus more on light novel translations, but the few manga titles they've also licensed are interesting. Tia la Cherla is a straight fantasy (as opposed to the historical fantasy, isekai, and urban fantasy of their ...

In the February 2019 issue of Newtype, an interview with Fate/Zero director Ei Aoki and Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note director Makoto Katō discussed their work on the The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II anime. The series is an anime adaptation of Makoto Sanda's Lord El-Melloi II-sei no Jikenbo (The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II) mystery novel spinoff series for Type-Mo...

Already #3 all-time anime in U.S. with US$21 million, behind 1999 & 2000 Pokemon films― The Box Office Mojo website reported on Monday that the Dragon Ball Super: Broly anime film earned an estimated US$9,794,742 in 1,236 theaters in the United States and Canada from Friday to Sunday. The film ranked #4 in the U.S. box office for the weekend according to estimates published on Monday. It ranked belo...

Artist launched manga in September― The March issue of Shueisha's V Jump magazine published the final chapter on Monday for Naoyuki Kageyama's Gyakuten Saiban ~Sono "Shinjitsu," Igiari!~ Gyakuten Tokkyū, Kita e manga based on the Ace Attorney anime and Capcom's game series. The manga covers the same "Northward, Turnabout Express" arc that episodes 10-12 of Ace Attorney Season 2 covered. Kageyama lau...

Game to have 9 total DLC character packs― This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the eighth DLC character for Bandai Namco Entertainment's Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker game will be Obito Uchiha. Similar to other DLC character packs, the character will be playable, and the pack will also include Ninjutsu techniques available for players' avatar...

Game launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC on February 15― The March issue of Shueisha's V-Jump magazine revealed on Monday that the Naruto franchise characters Kakashi Hatake, Gaara, and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki will join Bandai Namco Entertainment's Jump Force crossover game as playable characters. Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a new gameplay video on Saturday for the game that previews a fi...

Manga launched in 2004, inspired 4 live-action films― This year's eighth issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine revealed on Monday that Shohei Manabe's Ushijima the Loan Shark (Yamikin Ushijima-kun) manga will end in five chapters. If there are no delays, the manga will end on February 25. Manabe previously stated earlier this month that he will end the manga this year. The manga en...

Film surpasses 400 million yen at box office― The official YouTube channel for the Love Live! anime franchise began streaming a highlight video on Thursday for the Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow film. The channel also began streaming two insert song preview videos and three new commercials for the film this week. The film opened in Japan on January 4 and it is an all-ne...

Sentai Filmworks to release series on home video on January 22― Streaming service HIDIVe announced on Friday that it will add both the English and Spanish dubs of the Land of the Lustrous anime starting on January 23, with new episodes added on Wednesdays. The English dub will be available to viewers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa....

BD/DVD box sets sell 2,001 copies― "The Final ~Sugoi Sabato 2019" event announced on Sunday that production on a second television anime season of Yukiwo's Dropkick on My Devil! (Jashin-chan Dropkick!!) manga has been green-lit. The anime's Blu-ray Disc and DVD box sets have sold over 2,000 copies combined to guarantee the second season. The first box sold 1,043 copies, while the second box sold 958...

― The website for the Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Gaiden) smartphone role-playing game launched a countdown page on Friday that will end on Monday at 5:00 p.m. JST (3:00 a.m. EST). The game is inspiring a television anime adaptation that will premiere this year. The game's story, a spinoff of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime, takes p...

Series based on smartphone game premieres in April― The official website for the television anime of Wright Flyer Studios' Shōmetsu Toshi (Annihilated City — Where I End and You Begin) smartphone game revealed on Saturday that the five-member all-female idol unit SPR5 will perform the show's ending theme song "With Your Breath." The anime will premiere in April on Tokyo MX and other channels. The an...

Crowdfunding campaign launches in Japan to fund opening, ending sequences― Kenichi Sonoda launched a Campfire crowdfunding campaign in Japan on Sunday for his Bean Bandit episode 0 project. The campaign aims to fund opening and ending animation sequences for the project. The campaign's goal is 5 million yen (about US$45,548), and as of press time the campaign has raised 144,444 yen (about US$1,316)....

Saturday, January 19

TV anime's cast, staff return for film opening in early summer― The official Twitter account for Seishun Buta Yarō wa Yume-Miru Shōjo no Yume wo Minai (The Young Pig-Rascal Isn't Dreaming of a Dreaming Girl), the anime film based on Hajime Kamoshida's Seishun Buta Yarō light novel series, began streaming a web promotional video on Saturday. 【Web特別PV映像公開!】水瀬いのりさん演じる牧之原翔子によるナレーションで #青ブタ TVシリーズを振り返る特別映...

Nasu will supervise the script and storyboards.― Last year, it was announced that the Fate/Grand Order smartphone game will be getting a TV anime and a two-part film project. The Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia television anime will adapt the "Dai Nana Tokuiten Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia" (Order VII: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts: Babylonia) story, whi...

Do you have fond memories of classic anime from the cel era? Your interests will be well served this month. The Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store in Osaka will hold an exhibit from January 23 to 29 called "Nostalgic Anime: Cels and Prints." The exhibit will focus on classics such as Kiki's Delivery Service, Sazae-san, and Lupin III. It will show off hand-drawn cels ad prints. Manuscript drafts...

In their after report for Comic Market (Comiket) 95 posted on Monday, Comiket organizers said that the event is "no place for hate speech" after it came to their attention that a particular doujin circle had posted stickers at their booth with the message "No Chinese or Koreans allowed." The existence of the stickers was first reported by several Twitter users on December 31, although no photos we...

Earlier this month, Yuri!!! on Ice theme song singer Dean Fujioka finally released a music video for "History Maker" for his latest album just over two years after the release of Yuri!!! of Ice. However, Fujioka is not the only one eager to relive the good memories of the smash hit figure skating anime series. On Thursday, it was revealed that a bonus CD featuring a duet version of "History of Mak...

Side story slated for March 1 focuses on Uchōten Boys characters― Amazon is listing a new side story volume for Ototachibana's Shōnen Maid manga titled "Shōnen Maid Gaiden: Uchōten Boys." The volume is listed with a March 1 release. The new volume's description noted that the side story will focus on the Uchōten Boys, a male idol group consisting of Ryūji, Hayato, and Ibuki. The story will show thei...

A young woman gets spirited away to a world of ayakashi and discovers new passions in this charming romance manga. Rebecca Silverman has the details.― Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits' first volume and its 2018 anime are both adaptations of author Midori Yuma's original light novel, and as such, this book brings something a little different to the table than the anime. That said, even if you ne...

Universal Studios Japan streamed an ad for its new Detective Conan and Lupin III attractions that opened on January 18. In the ad, a theme park visitor goes on a high-speed chase with the Lupin crew, attempts to crack the code to escape with Detective Conan, and thwart Kaitō Kid from making off with the "Blue Sapphire." The "Detective Conan World" will involve three attractions: an escape room gam...

Manga based on JIN's novel, Vocaloid song series launched in 2012― The official website for Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Gene magazine revealed on Tuesday that JIN and Mahiro Satou's Kagerou Daze manga will end in the magazine's next issue on February 15. The manga's final chapter will have a color opening page and the manga will feature on the issue's front cover. The 12th volume of the manga previousl...

Franchise also has manga, smartphone game― Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine revealed on Saturday that the "Gonjiro" mascot character is getting a television anime adaptation titled Kedama no Gonjiro that will premiere this spring. The magazine's YouTube channel is streaming a scene from the upcoming anime, but the video is region locked and can only be viewed in Japan. IMG gonjiro-01.png IMG g...

New series to again feature Joe as protagonist― The official YouTube channel for Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine revealed on Saturday that the Duel Masters anime franchise is getting a new series titled Duel Masters!! (with two exclamation points) that will premiere in April. The site is also streaming a video for the new anime, but the video is region-locked and can only be viewed in Japan. ...

Switch game launches this spring― Level 5 began streaming a second promotional video on Saturday for its Yo-kai Watch 4 Nintendo Switch game. The game was originally slated to launch in winter 2018, but Level 5 delayed the game to this spring to further improve its quality. The game will "connect" the three "worlds" of original franchise protagonist Keita, Yo-kai Watch Shadowside: Oni-ō no Fukkatsu ...

― The official website for Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia, the television anime adaptation of the Fate/Grand Order smartphone game's "Dai Nana Tokuiten Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia" (Order VII: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts: Babylonia) story, revealed another character visual on Saturday. Rie Takahashi as Mashu Kyrielight and Ayako Kawasumi as Fou The t...

PQube to release bundle of both games this spring― Game distributor PQube announced on Friday that it will release the previously announced Nintendo Switch versions of the original Guilty Gear game and the Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R game in a "Guilty Gear 20th Anniversary Edition" bundle this spring. PQube will also release both games digitally separately for Switch, and will also release the...

Action RPG launched for PS4, Switch in Japan on November 29― NIS America began streaming a video on Saturday for its release of Nippon Ichi Software's Lapis x Labyrinth (Lapis・Re・Abyss) action role-playing game. The video reveals that NIS America will release the game for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in North America on May 28, in Europe on May 31, and in Australia and New Zealand on June 7...

Hasegawa previously performed 4th opening for Diamond is Unbreakable― The official website for the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure anime franchise announced on Friday that Daisuke Hasegawa will perform the new opening theme song "Uragirimono no Requiem" (Requiem for a Traitor) for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind (JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no Kaze or Vento Aureo) anime. Yuugo Kanno composed the...

Friday, January 18

Play with original story, characters runs in Tokyo, Osaka in April-May― Production I.G announced on Saturday that its Psycho-Pass franchise is inspiring a stage play. The play will run in Tokyo from April 18-30, and then in Osaka from May 4-6. The play will feature a completely original spinoff story and will feature original characters. Hiroki Suzuki (pictured below) will star in the play. Psycho-P...

Fighting game also streams guide videos for open beta demo― Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Saturday that Boruto: Naruto Next Generations' titular character Boruto is joining the lineup for Bandai Namco Entertainment's Jump Force crossover game. Bandai Namco Entertainment also began streaming four guide videos for the open beta demo of the game on Wednesday and Thursday. The first video focu...

Subaru Kimura stars in April comedy anime with themes of rap, hip-hop― Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics children's manga magazine revealed on Saturday that it will launch a manga and television anime project titled B Rappers Street. The manga will launch in the April issue of Coro Coro Comics on March 15, and the anime will premiere in April. (Note: The below video is region-locked and can only be view...

Police confiscated 1,000 female character figures from suspect's home― Police in Inashiki, Ibaraki arrested a 39-year-old male suspect on Thursday under suspicion of modifying and selling Love Live! character figures without permission. The man is a resident of Yachiyo, Chiba and self-described as a member of the sales industry. The suspect reportedly admitted to the charges and said the figure sale...

Manga launched online in 2016― The February issue of Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine announced on Friday that Yuzo Takada's 3x3 Eyes: Kiseki no Yami no Keiyakusha manga will move from the E-Young Magazine website to Monthly Young Magazine beginning with the next issue on February 20. Takada launched the manga on E-Young Magazine in December 2016. Kodansha published the third compiled volume in Jul...

Shirou Emiya might be caught up in high-stakes magic war for the grail, but a high school guy still has to eat. In the net anime Today's Menu for Emiya Family, the focus is pulled away from magic battles to focus on the warmth of good food. Each episode focuses on a different dish made from seasonal ingredients and interactions between Emiya and other key members of the Fate franchise's cast. The ...

Before Ken Sugimori and the Game Freak crew created the mega-popular Pokémon franchise, the team released the action platformer Pulseman for the Sega Genesis console. The game hit shelves in Japan in 1994 and would later be released in North America via the Sega Channel, an early version of what gamers now think of as an online console store. Since his first appearance on game consoles, Pulseman h...

App launches in Kenya, Nigeria with 7 manga series― The official website for Hakusensha's Manga Park website and app revealed on Friday that the Manga Park W app has launched in Africa. The app is currently available in Kenya and Nigeria, but there are plans to release it in more countries in Africa. The app currently features Kentarou Miura's Berserk, Hisaya Nakajo's Hana-Kimi, Hiro Fujiwara's Maid...

2 manga artists included among 16 nominees― Comic-Con International announced on Friday that the Eisner Awards judges have nominated manga creators Akira Toriyama and Naoki Urasawa for the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame this year. They are part of a selection of 16 nominees, four of whom will be selected by vote to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Creative professionals working in the comic...

Voice actress Haruhi Nanao announced on Twitter and her official website on Thursday that she married her now husband in December. Nanao didn't offer any further information about her husband but shared a picture of their left lands together with matching rings. Nanao made her debut under the name Haruhi Terada and voiced roles in Tenjho Tenge, Ah My Buddha, Naruto Shippūden, and Fate/kaleid liner...

Manga-based film starring Junichi Okada opens on June 21― The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Katsuhisa Minami's The Fable manga began streaming a special trailer on Friday. The video includes behind-the-scenes footage and an interview with Junichi Okada, who plays the title character. The film will open in Japan on June 21. Kan Eguchi is directing the film and Yūsuke Watanab...

In the anime series My Roommate is a Cat, character Subaru Mikazuki is an introverted writer who cares little about anything or anyone outside his stories. His everyday routine changes when he takes in a cat and despite his initial misgivings, his heart begins to stir through his interactions with his new 'roommate.' The anime's lead voice actor Kensho Ono is not nearly as skeptical of furry frien...

Animal-loving wrestler is sent to another world in manga illustrated by Baka & Test's Mattaku, Yumeuta― The official Twitter account for Kadokawa's Shonen Ace magazine announced on Friday that Natsume Akatsuki's Kemonomichi manga will get an anime this year. The announcement did not specify the format of the anime. The manga follows masked wrestler Genzō Shibata, who likes all kinds of animals and c...

The city of Toshima began streaming the full-length version of its promotional anime short for the Ikebukuro district on Thursday. The fantastical 4-minute short was animated by studio Shaft, the same studio behind the Monogatari anime series, Nisekoi, and Madoka Magica, and directed by key animator Yukio Takatsu. The anime's story takes place in the year 2020, near the Hareza Tower building plaza...

2 men accused of overcharging Bandai for construction, event― Tokyo Police announced on Friday that they have arrested two former Bandai employees — Takashi Udatsu (44) and Takao Kurokawa (66) — for fraud related to the life-size Gundam statue in Tokyo's Odaiba district. The two men have been accused of asking a contractor to overcharge Bandai by 10 million yen (about US$91,000) in 2013 for building...

Shoji Kawamori's latest fantasy mech adventure has finally come to an end on Netflix, leaving lots of crazy questions in its wake. Nick and Micchy share what they loved about the show and what left them scratching their heads.― Shoji Kawamori's Last Hope has finally come to an end on Netflix, leaving lots of crazy questions in its wake. This week, Nick and Micchy share what they loved about the sho...

The Kemono Friends staff using the skills and prestige they garnered to resurrect an old passion project seems like the best way to move on, and so far this has been a pleasant and intriguing follow-up.

Play based on Capcom's franchise to run in March― The official website for Devil May Cry: The Live Hacker, a stage play based on Capcom's Devil May Cry video game series, unveiled visuals for four of its characters on Friday. Ryōma Baba as Dante KwangSoo (SUPERNOVA) as Gideon Tomoya Warabino as Noah Ami Maeshima as Elise Other cast members include: Yūki Nakayama as Henry Tomoya Yamaguchi as Owen Tak...

Lauren Orsini takes an in-depth look at this Perfect Grade model kit to determine if this beloved release is a good choice for newcoming or veteran Gundam builders.― Gundam Astray Red Frame has its origins in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray. Published by Tokyopop, this manga has been out of print in the US since 2004. Nevertheless, its lead mobile suit's samurai-inspired design has captiva...

Kaji plays Yango, advisor to president of planet that makes Miracle Lights― The official website for Eiga Precure Miracle Universe, the newest movie in the Precure franchise, revealed on Friday that Yuuki Kaji (Attack on Titan's Eren, The Seven Deadly Sins' Meliodas) will guest star as the new character Yango. The role will be Kaji's first in the franchise. Yuuki Kaji as Yango, close advisor of the ...

Previously revealed 26th TV special debuts on January 25― The official Twitter account for NTV's Kinyō Road Show! (Friday Road Show!) timeslot revealed on Friday that a new Lupin III film will open in winter 2019. The timeslot aired the 2016 Lupin III Italian Game anime special on Friday. Lupin III: Goodbye Partner, the 26th Lupin III anime special, will premiere on Kinyō Road Show! on January 25 fr...

Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Han, Makoto Furukawa join cast for series premiering in April― The official website for the new television anime adaptation for Natsuki Takaya's Fruits Basket manga revealed three more character designs for the series on Friday. The website and Funimation also revealed the cast for the characters on Friday. Rie Kugimiya (Toradora's Taiga, Shakugan no Shana's Shana) as Kagura Sōm...

Mahiro Takasugi, Aisa Takeuchi star in drama premiering on March 18― This year's fourth issue of Hakuensha's Hana to Yume magazine revealed on Saturday that Yuki Shiwasu's Takane & Hana manga will get a live-action series. The show will air on Fuji TV on-demand starting on March 18. Mahiro Takasugi will play Takane Saibara, and Aisa Takeuchi will play Hana Nonomura. This year's third issue of Hana t...

Game launches for Switch, PS4, PC in West in March― NIS America began streaming a clip from the The Caligula Effect: Overdose game on Wednesday. The clip shows the members of the Go-Home Club voting for their new president. The game will launch for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in North America on March 12, and in Europe on March 15. NIS America describes the game: Mobius. An idyl...

New run will debut in Tokyo, with overseas performances planned― HoriPro announced on Tuesday that Frank Wildhorn's Death Note the Musical will get a rerun in January 2020 with an all-new cast. The run will begin at the Toshima Ward Performing Arts Exchange Theater (Owl Spot), and will travel throughout Japan, as well as overseas. The production is now taking audition applications for the role of ma...

3 suspects serve different sentences ranging from 2-3.5 years in length― The Osaka District Court handed down a guilty verdict to three site administrators of the "Haruka Yume no Ato" "leech site" accused of copyright infringement on Thursday. The three men received three different prison sentence lengths: three years and six months, three years, and two years and four months, all without suspended ...

Former manager Etsurō Imamura replaced after December incident involving member Maho Yamaguchi― The Nikkan Sports newspaper reported on Friday that former NGT48 theater manager Etsurō Imamura has been appointed as board member in the AKS main office in Tokyo. This appointment follows the alleged assault of Team G vice captain Maho Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi's comments on the incident, and the replacement ...

Game launches on PS4/Xbox One on Friday, on PC via Steam on February 1― Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe began streaming a launch trailer on Friday for its Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown game. Bandai Namco Entertainment is releasing the game on Friday (the game launched on Thursday in Japan) for PlayStation 4 (with PlayStation VR support) and Xbox One, and on February 1 for PC via Steam. The game was ...

Game launches for PS4 in Europe on Friday, for PS4/PC in N. America on January 22― Marvelous Games began streaming a launch trailer on Friday for the Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal game. The company is also streaming a nine-minute unboxing video. Marvelous Europe released the game in Europe and Australia on Friday for the PlayStation 4, and will release it on January 22 on the PC via Steam. XSEED Game...

Series of 10-episode shorts premieres on January 20― The official website for the delayed Mysteria Friends (Manaria Friends) television anime revealed on Friday that an "extra part" for each of the anime's 10 episodes will stream within the Granblue Fantasy and Rage of Bahamut smartphone games. The extra part will be available for one week after each episode airs. The site also began streaming an ad...

Rie Kugimiya, Megumi Han, Makoto Furukawa join cast for series premiering in April― Funimation revealed three more Japanese cast members and a second teaser visual for the new television anime adaptation for Natsuki Takaya's Fruits Basket manga on Friday. The new cast members include: Rie Kugimiya (Toradora's Taiga, Shakugan no Shana's Shana) as Kagura Sōma Megumi Han (Hunter x Hunter's Gon, Little ...

1st film in trilogy opens in Japan on January 25― The official website for the Psycho-Pass anime franchise began streaming two ads on Friday to preview the first two films in the three-film Psycho-Pass SS or Psycho-Pass Sinners of the System project. The first film, Psycho-Pass Sinners of the System Case.1 Tsumi to Batsu (Crime and Punishment), will open in Japan on January 25. Naoyoshi Shiotani is ...

Shōgo Sakamoto performs theme song for February 16 film― Avex began streaming a trailer for the upcoming The Royal Tutor anime film on Friday. The trailer previews the film's theme song "Parallel na Kankei" (Parallel Connection) by Shōgo Sakamoto. Sakamoto previously performed the opening song for the television anime, and is also voicing Eugene in the film. Keisuke Ueda, Yūya Asato, Yūto Adachi, Da...

PS4 game launches in Japan on February 7, in N. America/Europe this summer― Compile Heart began streaming a new nine-minute gameplay video on Friday for its Arc of Alchemist PlayStation 4 role-playing game. The video features a digital narrator. The channel streamed a previous gameplay video on January 10. The game will ship in Japan on February 7 after a delay from a previously announced date of No...

Film of GUNNM manga opens in U.S. on February 14― 20th Century Fox began streaming two new videos for Alita: Battle Angel, James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez's live-action film of Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita (GUNNM) manga, on Tuesday and Thursday. The videos both feature film clips as well as interviews with cast and staff. The film will open in the United States on February 14, after being ...

Next episode to debut on January 27― Bandai Namco Arts began streaming on Thursday the second half of the "TRIGGER: before the Radiant Glory" episode, as well as the first half of the "Boys Caught Up" episode of IDOLiSH7 Vibrato, an IDOLiSH7 spinoff series of net anime shorts. Both videos have English subtitles that can be turned on. The second episode is available to watch for free, but the third e...

Game launches in the West on Friday― Grasshopper Manufacture began streaming a launch trailer on Friday for its, Marvelous, and Shirogumi's Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes game. The game is launching on the Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe on Friday. In the game's story, The Bad is out to avenge the murder of her daughter Bad Girl at the hands of Travis Touchdown, but a game console ...

Theatergoers for film's 1st, 2nd week screenings will receive different novel each week― The official website for the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka: Arrow of the Orion) anime film revealed on Friday that theatergoers for the first week of the film's screening (February 15 to 21) will receive an original n...

Kis-My-Ft2 performs theme song "Kimi o Daisuki da" for February 15 film― The official website for Tora-san ~Boku ga Neko ni Natta Wake~, the live-action film adaptation of Mina Itaba's Tora-san manga, revealed a new visual and a trailer on Friday. The trailer reveals and previews the film's theme song "Kimi o Daisuki da" (I Love You) by Kis-My-Ft2. The film will open in Japan on February 15. Masaya ...

Thursday, January 17

Medvedeva skates with fellow Russian skater Alina Zagitova as Madoka― The staff of the Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Gaiden smartphone role-playing game unveiled a new commercial for the game on Friday. The commercial, titled "Reunion," features 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics silver medalist Evgenia Medvedeva skating a program in costume as franchise character Akemi Homura. It also featu...

Fighting game's announcement trailer streamed― A website opened on Thursday announcing a new Power Rangers game titled Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid from Hasbro, Lionsgate, and nWay. The for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC game is scheduled to launch in April 2019. The website began streaming an announcement teaser. Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid will feature current and cl...

Sandra Bullock film is third to use real disaster footage after live-action Death Note, Travelers series― Earlier this month it came to light that the live-action Western film adaption of Death Note on Netflix includes real footage of a train accident that occurred in Belgium in 2010, which killed 19 people and injured 310. The National Railway Company of Belgium claimed that Netflix had never asked...

New Year's specials, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Hal's Flute rank― Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind aired on NTV on Friday, January 4 at 9:00 p.m. and earned an 10.4% rating. Eiga Kaiketsu Zorori ZZ no Himitsu aired on NHK-E on Tuesday, January 1 at 4:50 p.m. and earned a 1.4% rating. Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters Per Second and Children Who Chase Lost Voices films aired ...

The manga version of NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari light novel is doing exceptionally well. In fact, the first three volumes of Oh! Great's adaptation already have over one million copies in print. The Kodansha offices unfurled a giant banner measuring 13 meters in length (about 42.5 feet) down the front of the building to celebrate the milestone. The banner won't stay in front of Kodansha forever. T...

Mitsuhisa Tamura's manga based on Bushiroad card game launched in May― The February issue of Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine revealed on Tuesday that Mitsuhisa Tamura's Future Card Shin Buddyfight manga will end in the next issue on February 15. Tamura launched the manga in the magazine on May 15. The first compiled book volume shipped on October 25. Tamura began the Future Card Buddyfight ma...

Natsuki Sumeragi, Kei Toume, Yuji Shiozaki also launch new manga― Gentosha launched its Comic Boost manga website on Tuesday with a new manga serialization by Ryo Ikuemi. In the next few months, the website is slated to launch seven other manga, including new manga by Jingu Takao, Natsuki Sumeragi, Kei Toume, and Yuji Shiozaki. The new site is a relaunch of Gentosha's previous Denshi Birz website. R...

Bushiroad announced last year that it would add some male idols to its BanG Dream! multimedia franchise. The production company signed voice actors Shūta Morishima, Seiji Maeda, and Daisuke Hyuga as part of the group "Argonavis." The band also added Shōhei Hashimoto and Masahiro Ito to the line-up. Seiji Maeda is on bass, actor Shōhei Hashimoto is on drums, Masahiro Ito provides the vocals, Shūta ...

Singer Hikaru Utada is bringing her concert into PlayStation VR users homes on Friday. If you own a PlayStation VR set, you can watch Utada perform "Hikari" and "Chikai" for free beginning tomorrow. "Hikari" is the Japanese version of Utada's popular Kingdom Hearts theme "Simple and Clean" and "Chikai" is the Japanese version of the Kingdom Hearts III ending theme song "Don't Think Twice." The VR ...

BD slated for April 16― Section23 Films announced in its April 2019 release slate on Thursday that Sentai Filmworks has licensed the Kokkoku anime and plans to release it on Blu-ray Disc with an English dub on April 16. The series is based on Seita Horio's Kokkoku: Moment by Moment manga. Sentai Filmworks describes the story: Juri Yukawa needs a timeout from her life. She's failed 19 job interviews,...

Hardcover book slated for this fall― Viz Media announced on Thursday that it has licensed Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball: A Visual History art book, and plans to release it in a hardcover volume in fall 2019. The book debuted in Japan on May 9, 2013, before the debut of Dragon Ball Super. Toriyama serialized Dragon Ball from 1984 to 1995 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump. Viz Media published the manga ...

Rising Star Games announces plans to publish in 11 languages― Rising Star Games announced on Thursday that it will publish Giga Wrecker Alt., an updated version of Game Freak's Giga Wrecker game, digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Limited Run Games will release physical editions for PS4 and Switch. The console version of the "physics-based" action and puzzle platformer will ...

― Entertainment news website Deadline reported on Thursday that the Dragon Ball Super: Broly anime film earned an estimate of over US$7 million on its general opening day in the United States, with a projected six-day earning of over US$15 million. The film opened on 1,440 screens including 180 IMAX and Cinemark XD screens on Wednesday. The film ranked at #1 in the U.S. box office for the day. Drago...

Movie will get new Pokémon Trading Card Game collections, toys, apparel, more― The Pokémon Company International announced an extensive line of products inspired by Warner Bros. upcoming Pokémon: Detective Pikachu live-action film on Thursday. Before the movie debuts in North America on May 10, fans can add new Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) collections and exclusive merchandise from PokemonCenter....

Aksys Games releases Nippon Columbia's game of animal minigames― Aksys Games announced on Thursday that it will release Nippon Columbia's Waku Waku Dōbutsu Land game under the title FUN! FUN! Animal Park for the Nintendo Switch on March 28. The game will be available in physical and digital copies. The game features 30 animal-themed minigames and three modes of play for one or two players. The game ...

PS4 game's Western release to have dual audio, English/French text― NIS America announced on Thursday that it will release the The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III game for PlayStation 4 in fall 2019. The company also began streaming an announcement trailer for the game. The game will launch in North America and Europe with English and Japanese audio and English and French text. The Thors ...

Game launches on PS4, Xbox One in Japan on January 25, worldwide on January 29― Square Enix began streaming a two-minute ad on Thursday for the Kingdom Hearts III game. The ad originally aired on TV Asahi during the "Soccer AFC Asia Cup 2019 Japan x Uzbekistan TV Asahi's 60th Anniversary Commemoration" program. The official Japanese Twitter account for the game series has been posting a countdown ev...

Demo available now for game launching on January 25 for PS4, Xbox One, PC― The official Japanese YouTube channel for the Resident Evil (Biohazard) game series began streaming an ad on Thursday for the game. The official English YouTube channel also began streaming a video for the game's "one-shot demo" on January 8. The demo launched on January 11 and is available until January 31. Capcom announced ...

Fishing game from Wright Flyer Studios to be available in 8 languages― Game developer Wright Flyer Studios began streaming a promotional video on Wednesday for its TsuriSuta World Tour (Fishing Star World Tour) Nintendo Switch game. The video and its description reveal that the game will launch on the Nintendo e-Shop in 38 countries and territories on January 31. English Promo Video Japanese Promo V...

Event takes place on March 15-17 at Florida Hotel & Conference Center― The Omni Fandom Expo event announced on Thursday that it will host animator Mamoru Yokota. Yokota will draw a limited amount of art commissions at the event. Yokota debuted as a character designer on Louie the Rune Soldier, and then drew original character designs for Magical Kanan, Bizarre Cage, and Angelium. He has also worked ...

Switch game launches in Japan, N. America, Europe on January 31― Inti Creates began streaming a new seven-minute video on Thursday for its Dragon: Marked for Death Nintendo Switch game that previews the game's voice cast. Players can choose from four different voice actresses or actors for each of the game's four main characters. The game will debut on January 31 in Japan, North America, and Europe....

Novel ships on February 8 to coincide with film's opening in Japan.― Publisher Tokuma Shoten is listing that it will release a novel adaptation of City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes, the new anime film adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's City Hunter manga, on February 8. The novel will tell the original story of the film while providing more details to the story. Kenta Fukui is writing the novel, and is ad...

Switch, PS4 version slated for February― The official Twitter account for Success Corporation's Psyvariar Delta game revealed on Thursday that the game will get a PC release via Steam on January 31. City Connection is releasing the game. Success Corporation first released the vertically scrolling shooter game in arcades in 2000. The new version also released in Japan for the PlayStation 4 and Ninten...

Live-action The Great Passage director works on June 7 film adaptation of Yuki Andō's manga― The staff for the live-action film adaptation of Yuki Andō's The World of Machida-kun manga revealed on Wednesday that Yūya Ishii (live-action The Great Passage) is directing the film. The staff also revealed the film's June 7 opening. In the manga, Machida is a quiet, awkward, bespectacled boy, whose slight...

Subscription plans now cost US$16, US$13, US$9 on different subscription levels― Netflix announced on Wednesday that it has raised the price of its subscription plans in the United States, as well as in 40 Latin American countries. The service's most popular plan, which allows users to stream in HD, raised its price from US$11 to US$13 per month. The service's most expensive plan, which allows users...

All cast members return from original game― The official Twitter account for Stand My Heroes: Piece of Truth, the television anime of the Stand My Heroes smartphone game, revealed more character designs for the anime on Thursday. The characters with newly revealed designs include: Daiki Yamashita as Yamazaki Kaname Yoshiki Nakajima as Kōya Kirishima Chiharu Sawashiro as Sōma Kujō Yuichiro Umehara as...

Hiroshi Kamiya, Mamoru Miyano, Tomoaki Maeno win Most Valuable Seiyū poll― The organizers of the annual Seiyū Awards announced on Tuesday that it will give awards for four new categories for 13th Annual Seiyū Awards this year. The new categories include "Foreign Movie/Series Award," "Game Award," "Influencer Award," and "MVS (Most Valuable Seiyū)." The organizers previously revealed the intermediate...

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Complete Edition trailers also posted― Bandai Namco Entertainment America revealed on Wednesday that it has moved the release date for the Nintendo Switch version of the Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization game from this summer to this spring. The company also streamed a trailer for the game, as well as a trailer for the Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Complete Edition...

― The seventh issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that the "big news" planned for Takashi Shiina's Zettai Karen Children manga is a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Shiina's manga industry debut. The celebration will include Zettai Karen Children-themed cafes, an art exhibit for Shiina's works, and a popularity poll for characters from Shiina's works. Shii...

Wednesday, January 16

Tokyo Disneyland's Disney Ambassador Hotel has room that can only be unlocked by the biggest of Kingdom Hearts fans. Guests will receive a one-of-a-kind room key shaped like Sora's keyblade. Just like a normal hotel key, the keyblade will unlock doors with a wave of its owner's hand. The room is decked out in Kingdom Hearts themed furniture and art. The room's beds display Sora and Riku on the hea...

Convention comes under new ownership― The official Facebook page for Texas anime convention A-Kon announced on Wednesday that the convention is coming under new ownership. As part of the change, the convention will move from Fort Worth back to Dallas, and the dates will change from June 6-9 to June 27-30. The staff announced that any hotels already booked for the old venue through A-Kon Hotels for H...

The Japanese leg of Glee actor Matthew Morrison's concert tour will include a special guest. Voice actress and singer Nana Mizuki will sing at the March 1 performance at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. The Black Clover and Dragon Ball Super: Broly voice actress will perform a duet with Morrison. Nana Mizuki was a member of Glee's Japanese dub cast where she performed the part of cheerleader Qui...

Game launches in West on February 8― Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming a multiplayer trailer for the God Eater 3 game on Wednesday. The game will launch in North America and Europe on February 8. In the West, the game will be available on PlayStation 4 and PC. The release will have both English and Japanese audio. The game debuted in Japan on December 13 for PlayStation 4. The game ...

This short series didn't catch much attention when it first aired, with its janky animation and head-scratching premise. Andy and Steve reveal what's so special about the newest work of nonsense from the creator of gdgd Fairies.― Himote House didn't catch much attention when it first aired, with its janky animation and head-scratching premise. This week, Andy and Steve reveal what's so special abou...

Teaser trailer previews 4-vs-4 battle game for iOS, Android― Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Tuesday that its One Piece Bounty Rush iOS and Android game will launch in 2019. The company also began streaming a teaser trailer for the game. In addition, the game's official Facebook account posted several character videos for the game. The game will feature four-vs-four team matches in a treasur...

― The February issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Newtype magazine revealed on January 10 that the new television anime adaptation for Natsuki Takaya's Fruits Basket manga will premiere in Japan in April. The new anime will have an entirely new cast and staff, as per Takaya's request. The new anime will cover the entire manga's story. The anime will air in Japan on TV Tokyo, and Funimation will stream the ...

CAPCOM's remake of Resident Evil 2 will reunite Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield when the game launches for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on January 25, but it'll also bring back another character -- one high in protein. Tofu will make its glorious return with a graphics upgrade as it attempts to save Raccoon City from a zombie infestation with little more than a knife and a flashlight. S...

― The official Japanese website for the Kingdom Hearts VR Experience virtual reality game is, as of this week, now listing a January 23 release date for the first part. Square Enix has not yet announced a Western release date. The first part was previously slated for January 18, already delayed from its original release date of December 25. The second part was originally slated for January 18 in Jap...

Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka (How Will You Live?) manga artist Shuichi Haga drew the character designs for an animated commercial for Suntory's Boss Coffee and the Hawaiians Spa Resort in Fukushima. It started airing on television in the Fukushima area on Tuesday, but Suntory has posted a long version of the ad on Youtube. The ad, titled Aru Otoko no Ikikata (A Certain Man's Way of Living), marks the...

Additional composers, theme songs also revealed― The official website for Carole & Tuesday, the new original anime by supervising director Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Kids on the Slope, Terror in Resonance) and anime studio BONES, revealed more characters, additional composers, and theme songs on Wednesday. The new characters are: Gus Tao Roddy Ertegun The anime's second group of composers in...

The animation quality of '80s OVAs and movies can be absolutely jaw-dropping, so what changed to bring so many of these ambitious productions down to earth in the following decade? Justin Sevakis has the answers.― Jacob asked: I was looking back at the anime that was made during the 1980's and have had something that has always had me curious. I have heard from several anime podcasts and as well as...

Band will continue, but cancels upcoming events― The official website for the band Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas announced on Wednesday that its bassist Kei passed away of acute heart failure at his home on Saturday. A funeral service for relatives was held on Tuesday. The band will continue to operate. However, for the time being the band has canceled its planned album release, tour, and "Mega Ve...

Shouta Aoi, Yuichiro Umehara, Yusuke Shirai, Kenjiro Tsuda, Sho Hayami, Yui Horie, more join cast― The official website for the television anime adaptation of Broccoli's Meiji Tokyo Renka romance visual novel revealed 11 additional cast members on Wednesday. The voice actors are playing guest characters who are historical figures. The characters began to debut in the anime's second episode on Wednes...

More information debuts in V Jump magazine on January 21― The official Twitter account for the editorial department of Shueisha's V Jump magazine teased a new "Project Z" action role-playing game for the Dragon Ball franchise on Wednesday. Goku as he appears in the game will debut in the oversized March issue of the magazine, which will ship on January 21. The same tweet also teased that "that chara...

Game app tops 10,000 preregistrations; Planet Tours arcade game debuts at JAEPO this month― Sega announced on Wednesday that production is starting on a new original short anime for the Kemono Friends franchise, since the accompanying Kemono Friends 3 smartphone game has garnered more than 10,000 preregistrations. If the game receives 15,000 preregistrations, Sega will unveil additional information....

Cookie plays God of Rock character in January 21 series― The official Twitter account for the live-action television series of Hiromi Ōkubo's Setsuyaku Rock (Rock Savings) manga revealed on Monday that comedian Cookie (Kunihiro Kawashima) will play the God of Rock, an original character in the show. The character exists only in the mind of protagonist Takao as a result of all the rock music he has l...

― Spike Chunsoft announced on Tuesday that its Chaos;Child game will launch on PC via Steam with English text on January 22. The game will bundle with a 10-track soundtrack for the first week. Chaos;Child is a sequel to 5pb.'s earlier "science-adventure" game Chaos;Head. Both have inspired anime adaptations. Chaos;Child first debuted on the Xbox One in 2014. That first version allowed players to hea...

Also: Ichimasa Kamaboko's NGT48 ads canceled after December incident involving member Maho Yamaguchi― The official website for the NGT48 idol group announced on Tuesday that the staff has canceled the Team NIII subgroup's performances on January 22 and January 23. In addition, the website announced that NGT48's junior "trainee" subgroup will perform all currently scheduled shows at NGT48's theater f...

Original story with different characters connects to January 25 film― The official website for the live-action film of Norimitsu Kaihō and Sadoru Chiba's School-Live! (Gakkō Gurashi!) manga revealed on Wednesday that the film is inspiring a four-episode live-action mini-series prequel titled Gakkō XXX ~Mō Hitotsu no Gakkō Gurashi! (School XXX - Another School-Live!). The series premiered on Amazon P...

Popuko, Pipimi drawn as handsome, cute schoolboys to start new season― The Manga Life Win website posted a page after the announced "final" chapter of Bkub Okawa's Pop Team Epic comedy manga on Tuesday. However, the page revealed that the manga is continuing with a "fourth season" drawn by Harada, an artist known for boys-love manga such as Yata-Momo and Color Recipe. Bkub Okawa is still credited fo...

― The official website for the Detective Conan films revealed the poster visual on Wednesday for Meitantei Conan: Konjō no Fist (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire), the 23rd anime film in the Detective Conan franchise. The site also revealed a "Fist Visual" for the film. Tomoka Nagaoka (assistant director on Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter) is directing the film. Takahiro Okura (Detect...